#deep sea delights

[montereybayaquarium]

Many hands make light work. Or in the case of the basket star — many branches catch more snacks! 

This sinuous sea star stretches its many branches into the current to skillfully snatch small crustaceans and other prey as they drift by. 

[necronamicode]

Me: Oh man pasta is really good but I wish I could add other foods to the middle for more flavor

The reliable ravioli:

[sulphuricgrin]

hey sorry to come in randomly but a yt channel i really like, "The Octopus Lady" just posted a video on brittle stars and i Immideately thought you might want to check it out.

i've been enjoying their videos for a super long time now since they do a good job at explaining complex scientific stuff about weird ocean critters in a really good and easy to understand manner, and they also only source actual scientific papers and always have their sources linked!

Hi, Anon! You have no idea how pleased I am to hear that you thought of me because of brittle stars!

Thank you for the video! I watched it and it was such a delight. I love animal and science videos. Here's the video for anyone curious! I love finding new science YT channels to subscribe to! :3

The video also gave me ideas to make Apocrypha daedra based off Magnapinna squid (Bigfin squid), which can get up to 8m/26ft naturally. This shit would be fantastically terrifying to see!

[lexydakitten]

went to the aquarium today instead of doing monday why do i still have monday rage. its literally not that serious i talked to a guy in my class for like 5 minutes about what our favorite sharks were as the chairs sprayed us with water and i remember absolutely nothing else lol. too unserious of a day for the rage i mean really

[just-some-guy-joust]

That's a wrap on this tournament thank you all for coming <3 I am exploding this tournament as soon as the other poll decides what type of tourney I'm doing next. Remember not to scroll down too far or else you might accidentally see the final poll, which DOES show bloody belly comb jelly as the victor, you don't need to check tho I know it does

[liodain]

(via aliatori)

Tags: prev i am the op of this post and i need you to know i’ve read the entirety of tfatf and in fact these were some of the characters i was thinking of when i wrote this post i saw your tags and i was like who the fuck else knows this story? and then i realized you’re the author of that story LOL

my favorite genre of fictional character is like "i am terrifying to almost everyone, i'm very good at killing, i can endure anything, i've become exceptionally good at playing into my reputation, and if you try to give me positive social interaction i will react with confusion and cower in a corner like an abused animal. and i may try to shoot you. but there is also a chance i may imprint on you like a feral dog receiving its first loving touch! good luck."

[nezuscribe]

it's that same summer when you're at the gojo summer estate, the one near the sea. you're still teens, long before gojo became arranged!gojo.

your last encounter with gojo was something you brushed off. but gojo couldn't stop thinking about you. you were this puzzle he didn't know how to figure out. this war map that no matter how long he looked at it, none of his past strategies were making sense.

but the two of you go about your usual routine. he's with his friends, and you stick to yourself.

or at least you tried to.

gojo's mother, the lady of the gojo family, was an earnest and strict woman. everybody knew that she wasn't one for games or jokes. she rarely smiled and rarely, rarely, laughed. you, along with all the other kids, knew to bow extra low whenever greeting her. she seemed to carry more power than her husband, but she didn't seem to find an issue with that.

but for a woman who was so keen on tradition, she seemed to care about you a lot more than the other children.

when she spoke to you, her eyes softened. her voice was gentler, more caring. your sisters especially grew annoyed at this, trying to butter up to her even more, but she seemed to harbor this sort of kindness only towards you.

you didn't question this either. it must be some form of pity, but you appreciated it nonetheless. sometimes you pretended like she was your actual mom, but then you quickly shook that thought away, chiding yourself for thinking something so childish.

this sort of gentleness she had with you turned into her trying to include you in things. some days it would be having tea with you when the other adults were having tea somewhere else, or sometimes she'd plan a little dinner with you where you could get dressed up and act like a lady.

tonight, however, she seemed to think that the best way she could include you was to include you in the group of the other kids, a gentle and guiding hand on your protesting back.

"really, i like the library," you insist, but it couldn't be farther from the truth. you had been inside the library for so many hours that you could blink and those high walls filled with books would be seared into your vision.

"nonsense," she tells you, her blue eyes and white hair looking down at your form as she waves it off, "the kids are outside near the fire. they'd be delighted to have you."

you cringe a little bit, wondering if she was just as daft as her son.

but she had found you near the fireplace, trying to stick its warmth as you hunched over yet another book. she decided that enough was enough, you should be out with the other kids.

so you couldn't say much to the woman who was hosting your family to argue, letting her lead you outside the grand patio and into the overbearing fields that led out to the sea, you soon saw the fire crackling away, the sound of laughter filling your ears.

some of the kids who were facing the two of you nudged the other ones to turn around, looks of confusion on their faces as the noblest lady of the land led a quivering you closer to them.

the usual look of caring she had whenever she was with you melted away, turning to something icy as the two of you neared the group. her hand on your back was still present, but you wished that it could somehow push you deep into the ground where you could hide forever.

her eyes looked over the group until they fell on her son, gojo, and narrowed.

everybody's eyes bounced from you over to her.

"there should be room for one more, yes?" she asks, and all the kids quickly nod, moving over on the logs that they had created into makeshift seats as they scrambled to make space for you.

you wondered what it was like to command such respect from people, what it must be like to have people actually listen to you.

she nudges you forward a little bit and you glance up at her one more time, a sort of useless plea as she encourages you to sit down.

you take a deep breath, offering them all an apologetic smile as you slowly sit on a log, your legs cramming together to make yourself seem as small as possible.

you watched as she walked back through the patio, talking to a maid as she motioned over to your group, saying something you couldn't make out, and you looked back to the other kids, the ones you had barely spoken a couple words to, and wince.

"sorry," you say slowly, your hands fidgeting non-stop in your lap as you laugh awkwardly, wishing you could just drop dead.

you can see your sisters seething in the corner, rolling their eyes as they sneer. the other kids nod at you just as tensely, and you wonder how disrespectful it would be if you just went back inside.

you feel a pair of eyes searing in the side of your face, and you look slightly to your right to see gojo staring at you, his eyes slightly squinting, just as his mother did.

you swallow thickly, picking at your nails as you send him a small smile before looking back down at your lap.

you could still feel him looking at you, but you chose to ignore it.

gojo doesn't really know why his mother liked you so much, but he never truly questioned her. she treated you with a tenderness he never saw her treat anybody (aside from him) with. he sometimes saw the two of you sharing tea with each other, other times hearing her laugh whenever you cracked a joke. something unusual for both of you.

his eyes look at your face, taking in the way you duck your head to seem smaller than you are. your eyes avert any contact, teeth gnawing on your already chewed-up lips. gojo looks at your hands, at the way you pick at your nails. he looks at your dress and sees the way the seams are fraying, the initial shape of the dress looking a little bit unfitting on you. almost as if it wasn't made for you specifically. his eyes narrow in more as he pieces it together. the dress is a hand-me-down from your older sister. not because your family couldn't afford a new dress, of course not, but to remind you of your place.

he feels a sting in his chest.

slowly the conversation with the group goes back to usual, the other kids pretending that you weren't there. gojo could feel the arms of one of the girls latched around his, her body pressing into his side as she tried to get closer to him. he wanted to shove her away, but didn't want to make a scene right now.

one of the girl shifted the talk to the topic of couples, talking about how she saw this husband and wife in town the other day who seemed to actually like each other.

one of your sisters, mei, snorts, shaking her head at the idea.

"us girls either marry an old man or a slightly older one," her eyes look over to you, "there's no in-between."

everybody grimaces at that, her other sister, yume, shoving her shoulder roughly at the crude statement.

"what?" mei scoffs, sitting back up as she nudges her chin to you, "she is."

yume gives her a warning look, one that's clearly saying she's saying too much, but mei doesn't seem to care much. everybody stirs, their heads craning with the thrill of gossip.

gojo looks at you and wants to see what you think about all this, but you're so far in your own world that you don't notice the commotion that seems to be directed at you.

mei calls your name, trying to grab your attention, and your head shoots up, brows furrowed to see who needs you.

"right?" she asks, knowing you don't know the answer.

you look around again, wondering if she was just trying to be funny.

"what?" you ask finally.

"you have to marry someone older, yeah?" mei presses, her eyes gleaming as your confusion melts away into one of embarrassment, looking at yume to see if mei was really serious.

of your two sisters, mei was always the mischievous one, if you could even call her cruelty that.

gojo sits up slightly, his brows scrunching up together a little bit at the mention of this. nobody had heard of any marriage offers, especially this early. you were still underage. who...?

you scratch at your neck, heat rising to your cheeks at the sudden attention on you.

"it was just an offer," you say through clenched teeth, shooting mei a look as she just smiles smugly. she knew she'd never have to deal with this.

"who?" one of the guys asks.

"nobody," you say quickly, waving it off as you rub a hand over your face, wondering if you threw yourself on the fire if that would help.

"naoya!" mei says instantly, your eyes widening as she reveals this very secret thing that even your father was trying to keep hushed away. you feel your stomach drop, eyes stinging in embarrassment as gasps echo around the group.

"isn't he...?" one of the girls tries to do the math, seeing how much older he already is.

"i heard he wants children," another girl adds, giving you a look of attempted sympathy but it just looks like a wince, "like, a lot of children."

you shut your eyes, rubbing at your aching forehead. you look briefly at gojo, only to see him looking incredulously at you. he's the only one who doesn't seem to be talking in a shocked or excited tone.

everybody gets excited about a terrible marriage offer when it's not them who have to offer themselves up.

he's studying you, seeming to be the only one who sees the way your chest is heaving, as if you're struggling to breathe. or the glossy look in your eyes, the way you dart them away so nobody can see. gojo looks over at mei, at the way she looks satisfied for delivering her piece of gossip for the night,

at your expense.

he doesn't know why he feels the way he does, or why he drags the girls arm away from him as he stands up, shrugging his coat over his frame as everybody suddenly looks at him.

but he's only looking at you.

"i forgot to give you your blanket from last week." he says simply, his voice heavy and coarse, as if he hadn't used it in a while, "come with me,"

well, he never said he was good at lying.

but he puts a steady arm on your shoulder, helping you stand up as you shoot him a confused look, letting him lead you away as the silence behind you becomes defeating.

you wipe at your nose, sniffling silently as he leads you through the grassy field.

he glances down at you. this is the second time the two of you have been alone, and the first time he's ever seen you on the verge of tears.

"thank you," you murmur thickly, rubbing at your eyes with your palms as you laugh wetly, "she wasn't supposed to say..." you trail off, looking away from him in embarrassment.

gojo guides you up the porch, behind a long marble pillar where the two of you are away from the other's curious stares.

he's never been good at comforting people, but he's never wanted to more than now.

"she's right, though," you say through a stutter, arms crossing at your chest as if that's what gojo was thinking about, "naoya, he-" you can't finish the sentence, the reality of it too heavy for you.

naoya proposed a month ago. a marriage offer for when you turn of age. he was desperate to find a wife, but not too many women were desperate to make him their husband. but your father needed the alliance, and your father's wife needed you away, so they swiftly agreed to it.

gojo's hand still hasn't left your shoulder, and he gives it a small squeeze.

"i'm sorry about this," you motion to yourself, laughing humorleslsy, "i didn't mean to...gods, i just...i don't want to be his w-wife," you admit quietly, shaking your head as you hide your face in your hands, "i-i don't want to have his children."

gojo feels bile rise to his throat at the thought of that.

he's only seen you twice. why does he care so much about what happens to you?

"somebody else will come along," he says in a whisper, and you look at him through your fingers, dropping them to your side as you blink slowly, rubbing at your cheeks.

"no good man wants to marry me," you tell him quietly, without any trace of pity for yourself, something that was simply the truth, "if not naoya, then another variant of him."

gojo leans down slightly to level with you, his lips pressed into a thin line.

you don't know why he's so close, or why he looks more worried for you than anybody else has. you shrug him off of you, trying to collect yourself as you peer through one of the large windows that look inside the estate.

"you can get rid of that blanket," you mutter, eyes darting from the window to his stunning blue ones, ones that make your knees slightly weak, "i was going to knit a new one anyways."

you bid your farewells, nodding lowly at him as you find your way inside.

gojo watches your back, looking back at the group as he runs a hand through his hair, gripping at his white locks in frustration.

he doesn't know what he's feeling. he doesn't know why he wants naoya suddenly dead. he doesn't know why he's not going to listen to what you just asked him to do, or why he wants to hold onto that blanket.

gojo doesn't know why you suddenly infiltrate his every waking moment, or why he needs to see naoya buried alive just so that you wouldn't have to marry him.

he doesn't know the answer to any of these things. but he doesn't know if he wants to.

[montereybayaquarium]

Meet the adorable snailfish 🐌🐟

The deep sea's little explorer that uses the fins on its chin to feel for its meals in the deep ocean depths.

The deep sea is one of the most unexplored areas on Earth. We can protect this underwater wonderland together!

[battleguqin]

melodysian asked:

uta holds up a little box, not fully closed and maybe there were weird buzzing noises coming from it, too. if one were to ignore the noises it was a rather cute box, pink with crudely drawn stars and hearts on it and a messily wrapped ribbon on top. cute, if only her idea of gifting nice things wasn’t to put a giant stag beetle into the box as a gift. but uta was sure he would love it. who doesn’t love a big and shiny beetle? “happy valentine’s day! this is for you! you have to open it very, very carefully okay?”

Sizhui was touched, and he felt his eyes well up with happy tears he pressed a sleeve to his mouth but he was smiling. "This is for me ?" he asked. Jin Ling always bought him things---a lot--of things, it was one of his love languages. Sizhui again touched a hand to her hair. "Thank you Uta."

He was careful with the opening, fingers gently unfolding and tugging carefully to reveal--a stag beetle.

A delighted laugh escaped him at the sight of it. "Oh, my...its stag beetle." he said as he carefully lifted it out to take a look at it. "A symbol of strength and power." he mused. "I love it." he added and leaned to kiss the top of her head. He held gently in his palm.

"Say, do you want to keep it as a pet ?" he inquired as he moved to get it some banana. Sizhui, was a read individual and he would of course keep anything his babies gave him. Some were stranger than others. This one was adorable.

"What should we name him ?"

@melodysian

[heartswithinreach]

your post about sylus essentially conditioning the reader to sit on his lap hasjsakddf that was so perfect and in character 😭 i love it sm its given me so much brain rot - how bout this:

can i request the lads boys reaction to the reader randomly asking to be carried/picked up in the middle of walking? for no other reason just to see how'd they react lol

LaDS casually carrying MC

Xavier

The most casual. He just smiles at you and asks, "Bridal or piggyback?" in the same tone as if he's asking what you want to eat.

And he's not just playing along. He means it. He wants to be the one you lean on — metaphorically and literally.

You can try and backtrack but then you'll get those eyes. The bluest puppy dog eyes that can break the strongest of wills. "Are you sure? We still have a few blocks to go to the café, I don’t want you to get tired..."

You feel like you're holding out on him by not letting him carry you. The mind tricks this man is capable of to get what he wants are ridiculous.

You fold embarrassingly fast and Xavier is happy as can be with you on his back, your arms and legs around him like a full-body embrace. He can see the tactical advantage to carrying you like this during missions, too.

Rafayel

"You want me to carry you?“ Rafayel scoffs. “What if I pulled a muscle in my arm and couldn't draw for a week? No thank you!"

He refuses until you ask if it's not that he doesn't want to carry you, but that he can't.

Now you've wounded his pride. He might not be the God of the Sea anymore, but he can't let this go unanswered! Rafayel will be on you relentlessly to let him pick you up, no matter how long it takes.

"Whoa, be careful, cutie! There's no telling how deep these puddles are from all the rain — you're super lucky your boyfriend is here to carry you to safety."

When you finally break and let him do it just so he can prove a point, he realizes he likes this way more than he thought he would. You're like his adorable little prisoner and the only way you're getting out is in praise and smooches. This will become a regular thing, I fear.

Zayne

“I told you to wear more comfortable shoes.”

Zayne inwardly grins at how quickly you deflate at his blunt response. It's adorable.

But Zayne has a hard time denying you something so innocent as wanting to be close to him. So he guides your arm to wrap around his shoulders and picks you up with a strength that always takes you by surprise.

He waits for you to settle comfortably in his arms before he starts walking. He's aware of the disapproving stares from the people around you and not too long ago, he would've been one of them. How quickly his perspective has changed because of you.

Zayne is brought out of his thoughts when he feels you peck his cheek and now you get that oh so familiar look of gentle reproach from him. "I am working on being more affectionate but I'm not there yet, MC. Now, behave or your ride will end early."

Sylus

Sylus is so caught off guard that, for once, you can see his entire thought process play out through his expressions.

Surprise at your request, suspicion you're just toying with him, the realization you're being somewhat serious, and then the most gratified look you've ever seen on his stupid smug face.

Now you’re speaking his language. So delighted you’re finally catching on, he just picks you up and continues on his way without breaking his stride.

However, you didn't specify how he should carry you. So you're draped over Sylus's shoulder and to keep you there, his hand is dangerously high up on your thigh for being in public. The smack on your ass is so inevitable, you can feel it like it's already happened.

"You just said you were tired, now you want me to put you down? You need to learn to make up your mind, kitten. I'll just carry you until you're sure of what you want."

[clanwarrior-tumbly]

Can you please do a part two of the Sebastian fluff where he lets his thoughts get the best of him and gets anxious that reader now sees him as a monster because of what they read on his document so he prepares extra good items and plans to give them heavy discounts and even some free but reader barges in like

"MANTIS SHRIMP??? PUNCH SOMETHING RIGHT NOW"

And after a bit of reassuring(possibly some punching too bc reader is too starry-eyed for him to say no to em) Seb realizes he trully never had anything to worry about and just, generally grows fonder of reader?

Ps. Adore your writing, keep up the awesome work!!

"God, why did I let them take it? Stupid, stupid, stupid.."

Sebastian couldn't stop beating himself up, even though he knew he shouldn't care about the opinion of any human sent by Urbanshade--especially one of the "expendable" class.

Yet because it was you, specifically--who was currently in possession of his document--he began to wonder what you'd think of him once you found out the truth:

That he was nothing but a horrible monster. Plain and simple.

If not the knowledge that he was a hideous chimera of several sea creatures' DNA...then surely the revelation that he caused the lockdown of the Blacksite would ultimately make you resent him.

He released all those creatures, who stopped at nothing to prevent you from reaching the crystal and had you running, fighting, or hiding for your life.

He was responsible for all the injuries you've sustained while crawling into his shop, desperately needing a medkit and a place to rest.

He would understand if you'd never want to visit him again after what they documented about him..but the image of your furious expression and overthinking the words you'd possibly say to him left him feeling incredibly anxious.

Suddenly, Sebastian found himself gathering more supplies. Medkits, code breakers, and every light source he had currently in the shop, trying to market down whatever he could. He was even willing to let you take batteries for free...which was something he'd never normally do.

Would it be enough to make up for everything horrific you discovered about him and the terrors he indirectly put you through? Absolutely not.

Was he willing to try it anyways just for the small chance that you'd keep visiting him? Maybe.

No other human has shown him a single ounce of kindness or gratitude for his services. Nobody except you, of course, and he refused to lose that.

-thump, thump-

"Shit.." He froze, hearing movement in the vent duct, hands trembling for his light to shine brighter. Part of him wishes he could stay in the dark, as he didn't wanna see your face and whatever hurt expression it could possibly hold.

But he knew it'd be rude if you actually needed to buy something, so he forced himself to look as your familiar figure crawled out of the small opening. You seemed out of breath, like you were just running from something, and stood up to dust the dirt off your pants.

"Sebastian..I need to know something, and you need to be 100% honest with me."

The moment you pulled out his document, the shopkeeper could feel his heart sink.

"Wh..What did you want to know?" He asked, already bracing himself for the worst.

You sounded dead serious, and he was convinced you were finally going to let him have it.

You were going to force him to explain himself and his actions, and tell him what a monster he truly was. Literally and metaphoric-

"Its it true that you have mantis shrimp DNA????"

Silence.

Of all the possible outbursts he expected from you, that certainly didn't cross his mind.

Sebastian just stared down at you, utterly dumbfounded. He blinked several times, unsure if he was truly seeing the wide smile and starry-eyed look on your face.

He had been waiting for a deep scowl, eyes full of anger and betrayal and sadness that he wasn't the "friend" he claimed himself to be when you first visited his shop.

Yet now? He saw nothing but pure delight in your expression.

"Um..yes. But of alllll the things you read about me, that shocked you the most?" He was still treading carefully.

"Well, it sucks that you were an innocent guy who got thrown into a shitty situation." You gestured to him, frowning a little. "And I'm sorry you never saw justice, but...it's just SO cool that you're part mantis shrimp!" A grin returned to your face. "They've fascinated me for years! I used to watch videos of them all the time. Did you know the velocity of just one of their punches is equal to a .22 caliber bullet-?"

"Stop." He put a hand up, huffing. "At least some part of you must resent me. I mean...helloooooo, did you skip over the bit where I'M the reason those monsters are after you?! There's no way you could've ignored that..unless your brain turned off the moment you read "mantis shrimp"."

"I read everything, Sebastian." You huffed back. "Look, if I ever had to go through what you did..I think I'd wanna rebel, too. And as much as those monsters scare me, they've probably endured the same experiments as you. They probably felt just as trapped and afraid. You must see at least a few of them as your friends, right?"

"Eyefestation and the PAInter are the only ones I consider "acquaintances"." He answered after a long pause, shoulders slumped. "The anglers are primitive, but they recognize me as the one who freed them, so they don't bother me or my shop. The only creature that tends to be an issue is-"

-thump-

-thump-

Tensing, you looked over your shoulder to see a Wall Dweller emerge from the vent behind you, its mouth split open and drooling with hunger, standing on two legs.

"-that." Sebastian glared at the creature; and before it could run away, he blocked the entrance with his tail fin. "Oh no you don't." He swooped over to grab ahold of its head with his third hand, causing it to shriek and kick its legs as he held it up high. "You seriously need to stop eating my customers when they're trying to BUY SOMETHING!!"

The Dweller just growled at him, to which he ignored it and glanced down at you. "What should I do with this thing?"

"Punch it!" You grinned, your fists balled up in front of you as you hopped up and down. "I wanna see how fast you could throw one!"

He raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Pleeeeaaase?"

"..ugh, if it gets that stupid puppy-eyed look off your face, fine." He looked back at the Dweller, grinning widely as he cracked his knuckles. "You wanna eat something so bad? Try this."

"....grahh-?"

In a blinding flash, his fist went through the creature's skull, effectively turning its head into dust. Then he dropped the whole body onto the ground with a grimance. "Eugh..never done that before.."

Then he looked down at you again, seeing your smile brighten. "Hope that made you happy."

"It did, that was amazing!" You laughed, kneeling down to rip off a chunk of the Dweller's flesh. He eyed you strangely, his expression changing to a look of horror as you shoved a piece in your mouth.

"What the f...why would you eat that?!"

"It's okay! I've had this stuff before." You swallowed, feeling rejuvenated already.

"B....Before?! What you're eating is clay and acid-"

"Actually, it's fresh meat. Reminds me of poultry, almost. I found a document somewhere saying that it has regenerative properties." You explained to Sebastian, whose eyes only widened the more you talked. "I didn't believe it at first until I saw the Angler kill one. I was hungry and...eating it healed my electrical burn somehow."

".......why was that not in its actual document?" He muttered.

You shrugged, ripping out another piece and offering it to him. "Care for a bite?"

"I'll..pass. But thanks." Lowering his body closer to you, he frowned. "Are you absolutely sure that-?"

"I'm sure."

"..you didn't even know what I was going to-"

"You were worried about my reaction to your file. I could tell from the discount signs and how you were scared to even look at me."

"............."

"But I promise it doesn't change anything, okay? We're still friends, Sebastian, and I'll still swing by to do business with you." You reassured him, smiling as you patted the back of his hand, before noticing the bandage on his third arm seemed bloody. "Um..when's the last time you changed that?"

"...oh this? Erm..it's fine." He attempted to hide it behind his back. "Nothing you should be concerned abou-"

"Too late. It's my concern now. Let me repay you for saving my tail."

He had no time to protest, as you were already on your feet and running for the medkit that was on the table. You weren't worried about getting to the next zone right now.

Not that Sebastian planned on kicking you out anytime soon.

No.

Now that he was able to confide in you, he was genuinely beginning to enjoy your company--especially as you asked him to rest his arm across your lap. From there, your gentle hands went to work changing the bandage out for a fresh one, using an alcohol spray to keep the wounds from getting infected.

He hissed and cursed a few times at the stinging pain, but not once did he try to get you to stop.

Suddenly, it all began to hit him in this exact moment.

You were willingly playing nurse to a giant sea monster that has killed a man and was responsible for the terrifying things you had to witness down here.

He couldn't understand..but at the same time he felt relieved that all along he had nothing to worry about.

"Th-That's fine..thank you.."

Hearing a sniffle, you glanced up as Sebastian hastily took his arm away, "standing" back up and turning away from you. You just smiled and patted his tail comfortingly, not saying a word as you waited for him to collect himself.

For once, that snarky and sarcastic fish you've come to know was gone, and he was letting his walls down, finally realizing he could trust you.

Eventually he fell silent, and you wondered what to do now. You bought everything you wanted to earlier, so you didn't wanna overstay your welcome-

"Do you mind staying for a little bit longer?"

The question surprised you, but you smiled and nodded. "Sure. As long as you don't mind, shrimpy."

There was a pause, and he slowly looked back at you, pouting. "Big talk coming from someone as tiny as you, friend." He playfully sneered.

You just laughed and shook your head, glad to see him in better spirits.

Thanks to that scrambler on his back, you didn't have to worry about HQ getting on your ass about continuing the mission or threatening detonation.

You could definitely stay awhile and ramble about more mantis shrimp facts to Sebastian...if he was willing to hear them, of course.

[dollwrites]

ｃｏｎｔｅｎｔ ｔｙｐｅ ┊ lads v-day weekend blurbs ( xavier )

ｃｏｎｔｅｎｔ ｗａｒｎｉｎｇｓ ┊ smut ( minors dni ), fem!reader, being fucked to sleep, probably somnophilia epilogue lmao, established ( ? ) fuckbuddies, some dom!xavier if you squint REALLY HARD, all characters featured are aged 18+

ｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｔ ┊ please reblog && leave feedback. not proofread so there’s probably mistakes. thanks for reading < 3

“Xavier, I can’t sleep…”

and that’s all it ever really takes to get your favorite neighbor into your apartment in the middle of the night— one, strategic whine over the phone and moments later, you’ll find yourself swimming through a sea of bedding on your belly, hugging your favorite pillow close to your face with both hands. you need it to muffle the flustered, eager sounds you make when Xavier’s strokes, slow but deep, hit all the right spots within your clutching heat. each swing of his hips is calculated; not a single ounce of energy and precision misguided— ensuring that you feel every throbbing vein as they caress your fluttering walls.

Xavier cages you in beneath him with both, large hands splayed out on the mattress, planted firmly on either side of your pillow, to ensure you have no room to wriggle free. the hard planes of his torso, so taut that you feel as though he’d crafted by stone itself, lay a fraction of his weight against your bare back. not nearly enough to crush you beneath the pressure, but plenty to let you feel his warm, slick skin, the gentle scraping of his peaked nipples against your shoulder blades. he’s heated and sweating, but not from exertion. his stamina could rival the gods. oh no, he’s sweating and grinding his jaw, working hard to restrain his most primal urges— to fuck you with wild abandon until you’re screaming for it. his body yearns to quicken the pace, made evident by the way his cock throbs with hardly-repressed desire.

but he knows this isn’t the time to want you dumb and drooling on his cock, and he’s being on his best behavior— however difficult it may be. tonight, he’s fucking you to sleep, lulling you to dreamland with the slow stretch and incredibly full sensation when the swollen, flared tip of his cock head nudges right up against your cervix; a subtle reminder of his size. “This is how you like it, isn’t it?” his inquiry strained and addled with lust, his hips rocking to fully hilt himself within you. you can feel the warmth and the squish of his soft, heavy balls against your slit as feeds you every inch he has to give, and you elicit a needy purr, squeezing the pillow tighter against your face. the swell of pleasure from deep within your lower belly sends and involuntary tremor along your spine, arching it, and your hazy eyes cross in sleepy, sordid delight. you can’t help yourself, even in your drowsy state, you push back into his ministration, as if begging for more, and Xavier grunts in approval against his teeth before hissing in a breathy whisper, “You want to be fucked, slow and deep, just like this, until you’re dozing off? Give yourself over to pleasure and sleep at the same time?”

your eyelids weigh a thousand pounds, so Xavier doesn’t mind if you close them, your needy mewling muffled by the pillow you bury your face in. your breath is hot and wet against the cotton pillowcase, dampening the oblong shape of your open mouth against it when you mindlessly whine for Xavier.

“Shhh, shh, shh,” he croons, hooking his chin between your shoulder and the crook of your neck. his soft lips dragging along your rapid-fire pulse beneath the skin on your throat. instead of nibbling, he suckled gently, before allowing the ridged expanse of his tongue to tease your sweet spot, right below your earlobe. “It feels so good, you just can’t keep those pretty eyes open anymore, can you? And you thought you wouldn’t be able to get to sleep…” his soft voice lilts in an ever so subtle taunting, breathy whisper against your lobe. both of his arms slide beneath the pillow to further encase you, his calloused hands— rough from years of constant wear— find yours on the underside of the pillow, and bring them together, holding them tightly in place beneath his; locked in a warm prison so there’s no way to protest the thorough, albeit sensual a fucking he’s giving you. “Your mind’s going to sleep, but your warm, little pussy is going to take me for a while longer, even as you dream, it’s okay. Just relax and enjoy the way I fill you up. Snuggle up and let my cock put you right to sleep, angel.”

[itsgirlcraft]

👀💞💞💞

wawa

sparkly version below

[chastiefoul]

when he says "please."

ft. genshin characters

characters: neuvilette, wriothesley, diluc, xiao genre: fluff and a smidge of angst in diluc's. just a little one i promise!! a/n: will be making more from this prompt any character request perhaps??

neuvilette

he pulled you close, eager to be pressed against you after having to be away from you for hours because of work. you smiled at the proximity, the longing was in fact mutual. he eyed your lips so attentively; such delight after a hard day of labor, surely you’d grant him that? he leaned it and stopped an inch before your lips met his, his breath tickled your right cheek. “may i?” he whispered, if there’s a time where he’d stop asking permission to steal a kiss, it was not that day. and that fact made your stomach go all crazy. you indulged in his eagerness for a minute, teasing your lover who had the patience as wide as the sea. “...please?” he mumbled, sounding a little desperate. you put your arms around his neck, bringing him closer, pressing a sweet kiss on his lips. “i’m all yours, neuvilette.”

wriothesley

“should i remind you that this is still work hour and i needed to be out of this fortress like an hour ago?” you scolded him, yet it did nothing to the tightness of his grip around your waist as you went to get up from his lap. “baby you honestly had too much faith in me if you think i could resist letting you go when you came in all pretty like this to visit me,” he continued to rest his head on your shoulder, closing his eyes with no worry in the world. “wriothesley.” you sighed, your tone reprimanding. “five more minutes for the special meal from the coupon cafeteria?” he tried. “are you bribing me...?” you asked, fighting a smile that’s dangerously close to invading your lips. “is it working? i could throw something else in there, like three of sigewinne’s rare stickers maybe?” he asked playfully, planting kisses all over your cheek and you couldn’t hold the grin. “cute that you believe she gave the rare stickers to you.” you smiled mischievously, wriothesley’s face immediately understood the unsaid words. “no,” he said at the betrayal. “mhm, she gave me the full limited collection too so your bribe means nothing now,” you said, raising an eyebrow in challenge. he just chuckled,  “figures.” you tried once more to get off his lap thinking that you caught him off guard but of course he didn’t budge. “wrio,” you whine. “five more minute. please baby, you can give me that at least, right? i’ll be good i promise.” he pleaded, and you rarely see him do that. you sighed, knowing you’re defeated way before he begged for you to stay. “five minutes it is.”

you end up staying there the whole day.

diluc

the life of an adventurer kept you busy, going to all sort of places and meet all kinds of creatures and that bounds to give you wounds and injury both physically and mentally. and of course diluc was the one to be concerned over you more than yourself. he never offered any complaints about the path you chose, as he gave you his full support instead. although a little part of his heart sometimes slipped away after seeing you home with another cut added to the barely healed skin from the wound before.

on a somewhat quiet night as he knelt in front of you as he tend to the injury on your knee he spoke, voice barely above a whisper. “can you try to be more careful?” he pressed the cotton on the wound with alcohol, earning a little hiss from your mouth. “i am being careful, you should see what happens to the other guy.” you smiled, offering a joke but when you didn’t see even an ounce of amusement on your lover’s face you know this time it’s serious. his hand stopped moving, he took a deep breath. “please, love. i can’t.. i don’t know if i can handle more of you falling into my arms out of exhaustion, and you’re barely conscious.” his voice incredibly weak, his eyes glassy as he gazed the floor. your heart felt like it’s being ripped into a new one as you saw him. you pulled him into his chest. “i’m sorry. diluc i’m sorry. i promise i’ll be more careful. no more taking commission until i’m fully healed. i’m sorry, love.” he just nodded, basking in your touch. as long as you come back to him alive and well, it’s all good.

xiao

“here comes a thought,” you said out of nowhere. xiao just hummed, letting you to proceed with the said thought as he’s sure it didn’t even matter what’s his response was. “you’re too demanding, at times,” you boldly claimed, as the sentence left him speechless. demanding? “how so?” he asked quietly, clearly bothered by what you said. “i was kidding. demanding isn’t the right word, it’s just, sometimes i wanna hear you say please, you know?” you reassured his doubt. xiao just stared at you blankly, face clearly telling you that he’s in fact does not know. “alright, that’s not a hard request.” he complied almost immediately. “okay, then say it?” you asked.

“now? but i am not currently asking for anything,” xiao said rationally, and that’s not what you’re looking for. “okay, pretend you’re asking for a kiss,” you said, smiling playfully, “what?!” the yaksha quickly became flustered. you took his hand, and he let you. “i’ll even give you one for real-“

“y/n, please.” he covered his face with his free hand, bashful beyond belief that he begged for you to stop talking because he’s not currently functioning properly. for someone who lived through two thousand years, he’s just not quite immune to your teasing and never will be, it seemed. you smiled happily, “that’s not so hard, was it?” xiao who just looked at you who’s all smiley just couldn’t help but mirror your expression with a little smile of his own.

[niightravcns]

Tags

welcome to my wonderland [ooc]

silence is golden [ic]

an idol in the sea of infamy [visage]

good things come with strings [musings]

twisted nights and sick delights [aesthetics]

so what does it matter if tou become mute? [headcanons]

struggle though you may; the rules won't bend [memes & prompts]

now sing and keep singing [playlist]

according to my ultimate design [psa]

taste their tears and hear their screams [gallery]

just one teensy little thing [reply]

you wouldn't want to mess with me [answer]

up above they hate chatter; or so i've been told [dash commentary]

good luck and breath deep [dash games]

guess your dreams ain't turning out so swell [wishlist]

that's the price; that's the bargain [plotting call]

as for love; all of the above applies [shipping call]

everybody's bill comes due [starter call]

well go on; take it or leave it [inbox call]

jewels begin to lose their glow; cities go to rack and ruin [open starter]

is it binding? goodness yes! [closed starter]

i always get just what i want [saved]

style au courante [mun's art/edits]

you'd better watch your tail [crack]

since you're in love with a prince [shipping]

these poor unfortunate souls [promo]

they say he's so quiet; so shy and demure [self promo]

wild soirees of exquisit sin [nsfw]

[charlotteking23]

Bouquet Toss - MV1/33

Max Verstappen x reader

summary: You and Max attend a wedding, sharing moments of laughter and love, even some mischief with the bouquet toss.

Max's eyes darted across the bustling ballroom, taking in the sea of well-wishers and flashing cameras.

The wedding reception of his best friend, Charles Leclerc, was in full swing, and the atmosphere was electric with laughter and music.

He tugged at the collar of his tuxedo, feeling the heat of the room and the pressure of his role as best man.

In the corner, a waiter carefully balanced a tray of champagne flutes, weaving through the dance floor where couples twirled in a blur of color and light.

The scent of fresh flowers mingled with the warm aroma of a five-tiered wedding cake, drawing Max's gaze to the beautifully decorated table that dominated the space.

He spotted his girlfriend, you were chatting with Kika, your eyes sparkling with joy as you listened to your best friend talk.

You had a vision in your elegant gown, the fabric whispering softly against your skin as you moved.

your laughter was infectious, drawing smiles from everyone nearby. Max felt a swell of pride in his chest; you looked absolutely stunning.

Two years into their relationship, he knew he had found something special.

They had navigated the ups and downs of life in the fast lane, and here they were, sharing in the happiness of their friends' union.

As the band switched to a slower tune, Max took a deep breath and approached you, extending his hand.

"Care to dance?" he asked, a hint of mischief in his voice. You looked up at him, a playful smile playing on your lips, and placed your hand in his.

The music wrapped around them as they moved together, their bodies fitting like perfectly interlocking gears.

It was a moment of pure, unfiltered bliss in the midst of the chaos.

Max leaned closer, whispering, "Are you nervous about the bouquet toss?" You giggled, feeling his hand tightening around your waist.

"Should I be?" The playful banter was their usual dance, a dance that had grown familiar and comforting over the past two years.

The anticipation grew as the bride got ready for the bouquet toss, your cheeks flushed with happiness as you took your place in the center of the room.

As the music swelled, the crowd of single women around them grew denser, their excitement palpable.

You leaned into Max's embrace, feeling the warmth of his body against yours.

His arms tightened around you protectively, and for a moment, you allowed yourself to forget about the tradition unfolding before you.

The bouquet, a cascade of white roses, was tossed into the air with a flourish.

A cacophony of squeals filled the room as the flowers arced gracefully through the space.

With surprising agility, Max stepped back, allowing you to position yourself in the fray. You watched the bouquet's trajectory, your heart racing with a mix of excitement and nerves.

The bouquet descended, and as if in slow motion, you reached up, your hand outstretched. Time seemed to freeze as your fingertips brushed against the soft petals. Then, with a sudden jolt, the bouquet was in your grasp.

The room erupted in applause and cheers, the noise washing over you like a tidal wave. Max's eyes met yours, a look of pure shock and delight etched on his handsome face.

He stepped closer, taking the bouquet from your hands and holding it above your head like a prize.

"Looks like you've won the competition," he teased, his voice warm with affection. He leaned in, his breath hot against your ear. "You're the only prize I need."

The tension between you grew, a thrilling undercurrent of possibility. The crowd parted, and Max took your hand again, leading you back to the dance floor.

As the music picked up, he twirled you around, the fabric of your gown billowing like a cloud around your legs.

The bouquet remained in your grasp, a symbol of the love and commitment that swirled around the room.

Throughout the rest of the evening, you both danced, mingled, and laughed with friends, the bouquet serving as a silent reminder of the future that might await you.

Max's hand never left yours, a constant reassurance that no matter what the next chapter held, you would face it together.

As the final song played, you looked into his eyes, the question unspoken but lingering in the air.

In that moment, as the lights dimmed and the music faded, Max pulled you in closer, the bouquet forgotten in the background.

He whispered, "I love you," the words resonated through your entire being.

The crowd melted away, leaving only the two of you, lost in the rhythm of the night and the promise of a life intertwined, as you leaned into him, feeling his heartbeat in sync with yours.

As the final notes of the song drifted away, Max leaned down and brushed a soft kiss against your cheek.

"Thank you for being here with me," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. You felt a warmth spread through you, a warmth that had nothing to do with the room's temperature.

You knew he wasn't just talking about the wedding. He was talking about the race, about every moment that had brought them here, to this dance floor, together.

The rest of the night was a whirlwind of congratulations for the happy couple, shared stories with friends, and lingering glances that held secrets only the two of you knew.

You and Max stole moments together when you could, his hand resting on the small of your back, the heat of his touch searing through the fabric of your dress.

With every laugh, every shared glance, you felt the bond between you grow stronger, more tangible.

As the party wound down and the last guests began to trickle out, Max took you aside, his eyes holding a question.

"Ready to go?" he asked, his voice low and intimate.

You nodded, feeling the weight of the bouquet in your hand, the petals soft against your skin.

It was time to leave the fairy tale wedding and return to the real world, but somehow, with Max by your side, it didn't seem so daunting anymore.

Together, you made your way to the hotel suite that had been reserved for the night. The door clicked shut behind you, and the outside world was left behind.

Max took the bouquet from your hands, placing it gently on the side table before turning to face you.

The air was thick with unspoken words, the promise of the future hanging between you like a shimmering veil.

He reached out, his thumb tracing the curve of your jaw, his eyes searching yours.

"What are you thinking?" he asked, his voice a gentle caress.

You took a deep breath, feeling the anticipation coil tightly in your stomach.

"I'm thinking…" you began, your voice a whisper, "I'm thinking that maybe it's our turn to write the next chapter."

Max's smile grew, a warm, genuine smile that lit up the room.

"Is that so?" He stepped closer, his body heat wrapping around you like a warm blanket.

"What does that chapter look like?" His eyes searched yours, hungry for every detail, every hope and dream.

You leaned into him, your heart racing. "It looks like us," you murmured, "You're racing in the future, and me cheering you on through every step".

Max's gaze softened, and he leaned in to kiss you, the tender touch of his lips sending sparks through your body.

The kiss grew deeper, more urgent, as if he was trying to convey every feeling, every hope and fear, through the press of his lips against yours.

His hands found the zipper of your gown, easing it down, revealing the soft, bare skin beneath.

You gasped against his mouth as he kissed down your neck, his touch setting your body alight.

The bouquet on the side table was a silent witness to the passion that ignited between you.

Max's strong hands gently guided you to the bed, the softness of the mattress enveloping you as he laid you down.

The night was far from over, and the promise of forever was just beginning to unfold.

Masterlist

Btw: Requests are open for ideas so please write some. LOVE YOU!